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US 6,186,649 B1Granted
Linear illumination sources and systems
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsHan Zou, Scott M. Zimmerman, John Colvin Wilson, Karl W. Beeson, Michael James McFarland, Hefen Lin, Jerry Wayne Kuper, Lawrence Wayne Shacklette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved linear illumination sources are disclosed which utilize external, highly reflective enclosures containing one or more linear openings and thereby achieve improved source efficiency, output irradiance and/or output radiance. Such improved illumination sources may be combined with additional optical elements to produce more complex illumination systems.
Claims23
A linear illumination source comprising:
- (a) a linear light source having a width w1 in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the linear light source;
- and
- (b) an external reflective enclosure partially surrounding the linear light source, wherein the external reflective enclosure has a maximum inside width w2, and wherein the external reflective enclosure has at least one linear opening of maximum width w3 such that (0.03)(w2)≦w3≦(0.75)(w2) wherein the external reflective enclosure comprises an engineering thermoplastic filled with fine particles of a clear or white filler wherein the index of refraction of said fine particles is greater than the index of refraction of said thermoplastic;
- and wherein the enclosure comprises a reflecting material having a reflectivity R greater than or equal to 95%.
1 more element
The linear illumination source comprising:
- (a) a linear light source having a width w1 in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the linear light source;
- and
- (b) an external reflective enclosure partially surrounding the linear light source, wherein the external reflective enclosure has a maximum inside width w2, and wherein the external reflective enclosure has at least one linear opening of maximum width w3 such that (0.03)(w2)≦w3≦(0.75)(w2), and wherein said linear opening has a width that varies along the length of the illumination source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.